Folding crate or box.



No. 895,793. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908. G. H. RUDISILL.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 7, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Z241 9 m JZZ dumm No. 895,793. PATE'NTED AUG. 11, 1908.

H. RUDISILL. FOLDING CRATE 0R BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE H. RUDISILL, OF SEWIOKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. RUDISILL, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Sewickley, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Crates or Boxes, of which the following is a specification,reference be ing had therein to the accompanying drawmg. I

This invention relates to folding crates and boxes, and the object ofthis invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive box orcrate that can be folded or collapsed to occupy a comparatively smallspace.

My invention aims to provide a folding box or crate that can be used fornumerous purposes, particularly for merchandise of a perishable nature,where the boxes or crates are returned to the original owner forreshipment. In this connection, I have devised a folding or collapsiblebox or crate that will occupy a comparatively small space when folded,permitting of a large number of boxes or crates to be packed in afreight car for return shipment.

The principle upon which my box or crate is folded or collapsed can bereadily applied to numerous other structures, therefore I do not care toconfine myself to the specific use of my invention.

The preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a box orcrate in a set up or open position, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalView ofthe same, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a box orcrate in a knocked down or closed position, Fig. 4 is a cross sectionalview of a box or crate in a set up or open position, Fig. 5 is a similar view of the box or crate in a knocked down or closed position, Fig.6 is a perspec-' tive view of a portion of the box or crate, Fig. 7 is'aplan of a portion of the box or crate in a knocked down or foldedposition.

To put my invention into practice I provide a plurality of telescopicparts or sections, three being shown in the present illustration, thesesections varying in size, whereby one can be fitted or interlockedwithin the other.

The main frame section which constitutes the outside of the box or cratecomprises side boards 1 and 2 and end boards 3, the lower edges of theseboards being provided with in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 7, 1908.

Patented. Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 414,788.

wardly protruding cleats or flanges 4. The end boards 3 are braced byvertically disposed corner strips 5, and are provided with openings orhand-grips 6, which also serve as keepers, as will be presentlydescribed. The second or intermediate frame section fits within theabove described frame section and'comprises side boards 7 and end boards8,

these boards having their bottom edges pro vided with inwardly extendingcleats or flanges 9 and their upper edges with outwardly extendingcleats or flanges 10. The upper cleats or flanges are cut away, as at11, to clear the vertical strips 5 of the main frame section. The endboards 8 of the intermediate frame section are also braced by verticalcorner strips 12.

Fitting in the intermediate frame section is a third section 13, ofbox-like form, having a bottom 14, and the upper edges of its wallsprovided with outwardly extending cleats or flanges 15. These flanges orcleats are cut away, as at 16, to clear the vertical corner strips 12 ofthe intermediate frame.

Hinged as at 17 in the box section 13 are two end locking boards 18,these boards being formed with shoulders 19 and projections 20, theobject of which will presently appear.

Adapted to fit upon the box or crate is a lid or cover 21, the ends ofsaid lid or cover being provided with depending angle plates 22 adaptedto engage in grooves 23 provided therefor in the end boards 3 of theouter or main frame section of the box or crate. The underneath face ofthis lid or cover is provided with a dove-tail tongue 24, said tongueengaging in dove-tail grooves 25, 26 and 27 formed respectively in thebox section 13, intermediate frame section and outer or main framesection. The tongue 24 is adapted to engage in these grooves and locksaid frame sections in a knocked down or folded position, as illustratedin Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings.

The manner of manipulating my box or crate is as follows Assuming thatthe box or crate is closed or in a knocked down position, as illustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings, it is only necessary to remove the lid orcover 21 and elevate the outer frame section. As this frame section andthe intermediate frame section telescope the box section 13, the outerframe section can be freely moved until the inwardly projecting cleatsor flanges 4 engage the outwardly extending cleats or flanges 10 of theintermediate frame section,

tains merchandise.

.in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

at which time this frame section will be carried upwardly with the outerframe section until the inwardly projecting cleats or flanges 9 of saidintermediate frame section engage the outwardly projecting cleats orflanges 15 of the box section 13. The box or crate then presents theform illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and to maintain the framesand box-like structure in this position, the end locking boards arefolded upwardly, until the shoulders 19 engage the outwardly projectingcleats or flanges 10 of the intermediate frame section and theprojections 20 of said end locking boards engage in the hand-grips orkeepers 6 of the outer frame section. These end locking boards 18 braceand maintain the various parts of my box or crate in a fixed position,while the same is being used, or con- The lid or cover 21 can then beplaced in position to close the box or crate. As the side boards 1 and 2are formed with grooves to receive the tongue 24, this lid or cover willbe held in a closed position by said tongue and angle plates 22.Immediately upon the lid or cover being removed, and the end lockingboards 18 folded in the box section 13, the frame sections of the box orcrate can be knocked down or collapsed to telescope the box section 13,as illustrated To maintain these frame sections in this position, it isessential that the lid or cover 22 be replaced to hold said frames in aclosed and locked position. \Vhen in a knocked down or folded position,the box or crate presents a strong, compact and durable structure thatwill occupy a comparatively small space, particularly when beingtransported in freight cars.

My folding box or crate can be constructed of wood, metal or a materialcapable of with standing the rough usage to which shipping boxes orcrates are subjected.

I reserve the right to make such changes in my invention as arepermissible by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. A folding box comprising a main flanged frame section, anintermediate flanged frame sectlon telescoped by said mam frame section,a box section having flanges engaged by said intermediate frame sectionand telescoped thereby, end locking boards hinged in said box sectionand adapted to engage said intermediate and main frame sections formaintaining the same in a set up position, a lid or cover adapted to fitupon said main frame section, depending angle plates carried thereby forengaging in the end boards of said main frame section, and a dove-tailtongue carried by said lid or cover for engaging all of said sectionsand securing them in a telescoped position.

2. A folding box comprising telescopic -main and intermediate framesections, a box section telescoped by said main and intermediate framesections, hinged end locking board's carried by said box section formaintaining said main and intermediate frame sections in a set upposition, a lid or cover adapted to fit upon the main frame section, anda dove-tail tongue carried by said lid or cover for locking said mainand intermediate frame sections in engagement With said box section.

3. A folding box, comprising a box sec tion and a plurality oftelescoping frame sections, flanges carried by each of said sections tolimit their movement in one direction, locking members hinged to theboxsection to fold inwardly therein and having lugs adapt ed, .When saidmembers are in the extended position to engage in openings providedtherefor in the uppermost frame section and hold said sections in theextended portion, a lid or cover engaging the uppermost frame section,and means carried by said lid or cover for engagement with each of thesections when the latter are telescoped to lock them in telescopedposition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE H. RUDISILL.

Witnesses: l\/.[AX H. SRoLovrTz, K. H. BUTLER.

